The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society, consistent with the development of its volunteers and members, took part in a hands-on workshop on Vulnerability Capacity and Assessment for trainers in St. Lucia in early February.

Attending the workshop were the Directors for Disaster Preparedness and Relief, Scott Muiznieks and Human Resource and Organizational Development, Allan Bachan.

The objective of the course was to equip key persons within the society with skills in identifying community Hazards and Vulnerabilities which they will in turn roll down to other members of the national society to create a broader skill base.

The plan is then to develop training programmes for the local communities in Trinidad and Tobago so that they will learn, and be equipped to identify and mitigate against the risks that may be present in their own communities.

The course, also attended by representatives from twelve other regional national societies, provided actual field experience done in the setting of a local community in St. Lucia. It was hosted by the St. Lucia Red Cross and sponsored by the European Commission on Humanitarian Aid.

Facilitating the workshop were representatives of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Panama and local offices, Sidney Crawford from Panama, Jill St John and Nicole Williams from Trinidad and Tobago.